The problem with Data is it doesn’t play favorites.
It can give you answers you don’t want to hear.
That’s why autocratic governments are obsessed with gathering all the information they can get and controlling what information is shared.
You don’t have to be a malicious autocrat to misuse data. You can just be that leader who doesn’t use it.
You can play the game between Perception and Truth on the side of Perception, by not giving everyone access to data.
You can encourage personal bias and intuition to rule decisions.
You can rationalize this under the guise of “my intuition is right”. You can be skeptical of making all decisions based on calculations. Fair enough. Especially if you think you’re Elon Musk.
Imagine if air traffic controllers were required to guess what decisions they made without data? Or neurosurgeons? Or shop assistants?
Your relationship with data is a key component of your leadership style.
If you trust data you’ll share it broadly.
If you really appreciate it you’ll spend your time and resources to establish systems so your team sees what is really happening, not just what they think is happening.
Not restricted to people at the top.
In the 21st century, leaders who don’t actively use data are like people in the 20th century who refused to use cars.
Giving people good data is letting them see outside the box they’re in.
Failing to provide it keeps them in that box. A leadership failure.
Engagement surveys are a good example.
Many companies run engagement surveys but too few use the information effectively. The survey results become a trophy or a weapon, or worse, just ignored.
Uber drivers get rated on every trip they take. Amazon rate products, Google and Apple rate restaurants. All of these are specific and immediate, and help drive better products or services.
“..you don’t have to be a malicious autocrat to misuse data…you can just be that leader who doesn’t use it…”
How much data do you see on what’s happening in your team?
How much does your team see?
Are your reports just scorecards? Win/lose? Or do they show you – and your team – what’s happening?
Do you actively shape and influence what information your team sees or do you leave it up to them?
Do you all look at the same data?
Do you restrict what your team sees? Keep them in their boxes?
How fresh is your information? Do you decide what to see daily, weekly, monthly? Or do you allow IT or accountants to decide what suits them?
Is data usage part of your strategy or someone else’s job?
Do you value truth over perception?
Do you make data radically available, not kept In segmented parts?
Do you get out of your box?
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“I might be wrong, but at least I’ve thought about it…”